This tasty Instant Pot Penne Pasta recipe is a quick and easy recipe perfect for an easy weeknight dinner. The best part about this recipe is that the pasta and sauce are cooked together, from scratch. So there’s no need for jar pasta sauce. [Stovetop instructions also provided.]
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This delicious Instant Pot pasta recipe is one of my go-to recipes because it is so easy. On a busy weeknight, you can make a creamy tomato sausage pasta within 30 minutes from scratch, and the hands-on time is less than ten minutes!
Making pasta in the Instant Pot electric pressure cooker is convenient because everything gets done in one pot. You don’t drain the starchy pasta water. Instead, the cooking liquid gets absorbed into the dish, making it thick and creamy.
I combined two stovetop recipes to make this Instant Pot sausage pasta: my original homemade pasta sauce recipe and my Italian pasta with sausage recipe. I think your family will love this pasta recipe as much as we do!
Ingredients and Tips
🧂 Ingredients You’ll Need For Instant Pot Penne Pasta
💡 Recipe and Ingredient Tips
🌶️ Spice: If you love spicy foods, add more crushed red pepper or use a spicy sausage. I do both to increase the flavor in this pasta dish.
🌿 Seasonings: Swap dried basil and oregano with dried Italian seasoning for convenience and more complex flavor.
🍲 Broth: The recipe allows for using broth or water, but broth adds more depth. The penne absorbs the broth, making the dish more flavorful.
🥛 Cream: For a healthier twist, replace heavy cream with half-and-half. For a creamier, slightly tart flavor, try substituting with cream cheese or mascarpone cheese.
🍯 Sugar: A little sugar balances the acidity of the tomatoes. You can substitute it with grated carrots for a natural sweetness.
🧀 Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan cheese adds maximum flavor!
🍖 Sausage: Use either mild or hot Italian sausage depending on your preference. I usually buy Italian sausage links and remove the casing for easier cooking. For a meatier dish, add an extra ¼ lb of sausage.
- If you want to switch things up, substitute ground Italian sausage, ground beef, boneless skinless chicken (cubed), turkey sausage, or chicken sausage.
- Add extra Italian seasoning and fennel seeds for that Italian sausage flavor if using plain ground meat. Smoked sausage also works well.
🍅 Tomatoes: The recipe uses a large can of crushed tomatoes for a rich, tomato-forward flavor. The cream helps balance this out. If you’d prefer less tomato flavor, use ½ to ¾ of the can.
- You can also swap crushed tomatoes for a jar of marinara or spaghetti sauce. Just adjust the spices and salt accordingly.
- To avoid the Instant Pot’s burn notice, add the tomatoes at the end without stirring.
- If you want to stretch the meal or reduce the tomato intensity, add an extra 4 ounces of pasta—no other changes are needed.
❓FAQS
If you find the pasta to be too saucy, add in some extra cooked pasta this time. Next time you make it, add an extra 2 to 4 ounces of pasta, with no other changes required to the recipe. If the liquid doesn’t cover the pasta, add a tablespoon or two of broth on top of the pasta.
To make it healthier, cook the meat and drain the fat completely, use chicken sausage or omit the meat entirely and add more vegetables, or use half and half instead of cream.
Make sure that you deglaze and scrape the bottom of the pot really well before pressure cooking. Also, don’t stir the pasta. Just add them on top and gently press down to make sure the pasta is submerged. If you’re still having issues, increase the liquid by ¼ cup. Find out how to avoid the food burn Instant Pot message.
Yes, you can double the recipe with no changes to cook time. Make sure the food doesn’t go over the ½ full mark.
Yes, you can use mushrooms, peas, or any other vegetable. Spinach can be stirred in at the end after the cooking is complete.
If you find that the pasta is overcooking and you prefer it more al dente, reduce the cooking time by 1 minute.
✏️ Important Tips for Making Pasta in the Instant Pot
- To avoid the Instant Pot food burn message, add the dry pasta at the end right before pressure cooking, and don’t stir it. Just push down on it with a spatula until the pasta is submerged in the liquid.
- Any type of pasta shape (shells, spiral, penne, farfalle, ziti, rigatoni) will work for this recipe, but you may need to change the cooking time. I use the Barilla brand of pasta.
- The general rule of thumb for cooking pasta in the Instant Pot is to take the time that the pasta box says, divide by 2 and add 1. e.g. if the stovetop cooking time on the pasta box is listed as 8 minutes, you would pressure cook for 5 minutes (8 divided by 2 = 4; 4 + 1 = 5).
- For al dente pasta, pressure cook for half the time recommended on the box.
- The longer the pasta sits in the Instant Pot, the more it cooks. So, it’s important to release pressure as soon as cooking is complete. To avoid a mess, release the pressure in bursts, as detailed in how to natural release Instant Pot.
How to make Italian Sausage Pasta
⏲️ Instant Pot Method
- Saute meat and onions.
- Add seasoning and pasta.
- Pressure cook pasta.
- Stir in cream and garnish with parsley and parmesan.
- Once the inner pot has preheated, add oil to the inner pot and let it heat up.
- Add meat and cook until browned, about 5 minutes. If the meat browns too quickly, press Cancel until the the pot cools down a bit and select Saute again. Deglaze as needed with a tablespoon of broth.
- Add onions and garlic.
- Stir the onions and garlic and cook on Sauté mode until translucent. Deglaze the bottom of the Instant Pot with white wine, stirring until the liquid has nearly evaporated. Once the sausage and onion mixture has cooked, press Cancel to turn Instant Pot off.
- Add bell pepper, sugar, basil, oregano, salt, black pepper.
- Add broth or water. Stir to combine.
- Add pasta to the pot, but don’t stir in. Gently push down with a spatula so the pasta is submerged.
- Add the tomato sauce to cover the pasta, but don’t stir. Layering ingredients this way helps avoid the Burn message.
- Close the Instant Pot lid.
- Program the Instant Pot to Manual or Pressure Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes.
- The display will go from On to 5:00. The float valve will go up after a few minutes. The display will count down to 00:00.
- Do a quick release of pressure. Once the float valve goes down, the lid can be opened.
✏️ Pro Tip for Releasing Pressure in Small Bursts
- For some foods such as noodles, I find it helpful to release the steam in small bursts: less than 1-second intervals. Once the steam coming out is less forceful, release the remaining pressure in a steady stream. Read more about the different pressure release methods.
- Once you open the lid, there might seem to be more liquid than you’d like, but don’t worry, the liquid will get absorbed by the pasta as it rests.
- Stir in cream.
- Stir in parsley.
- Select Saute function and simmer the pasta and sausage for a couple of minutes until heated through. Let the penne rest for a few minutes and it will thicken up. Sprinkle each serving of the creamy sausage pasta with grated parmesan, parsley, and red pepper flakes (if using).
♨️ Stovetop Method
- Make the Marinara Sauce
– Saute onions and garlic.
– Stir in tomatoes and simmer.Stir in seasonings and simmer. - Cook pasta according to box directions, drain, and set aside.
- Brown the sausage in oil.
- Add bell pepper and sauté until crisp-tender.
- Deglaze with white wine.
- Stir in cooked plain pasta, tomato sauce, and cream.
- Simmer until heated through.
- Sprinkle each serving with Parmesan and parsley, and crushed red pepper, if using.
See the recipe card below for detailed instructions.
Try Another Instant Pot Recipe
- Cajun Chicken Pasta is a spicy pasta dish with chicken, sausage, peppers, and Cajun spices that’s sure to please.
- Vegetarian Rigatoni is a vegetarian adaptation of rigatoni bolognese that’s an easy one-pot meal.
- Another Cajun favorite recipe is Instant Pot red beans and rice. This is one of the most comforting meals you will try!
- Chicken Tikka Masala Pasta is a one-pot curry chicken pasta dish with Indian spices that can be made on the stovetop or Instant Pot.
- For a kid-friendly pasta favorite that’s an easy one-pot recipe try Instant Pot mac and cheese !
Instant Pot Penne Pasta with Italian Sausage
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp vegetable oil (Use 2 tablespoon for stovetop version)
- 1 lb Italian sausage (500 grams) casing removed, cut into ½ inch chunks
- ½ cup onion chopped
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- ½ cup dry white wine
- 1 cup bell peppers 1 inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar [See Note 1]
- 1 ½ tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp salt or to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper powder
- 1 ½ cups low sodium chicken broth or water (No broth needed for stovetop version)
- 28 oz. crushed tomatoes (794 grams) [See Note 2]
- 8 oz dry penne pasta (226 grams) [See Note 3]
- ½ cup heavy cream
- parmesan cheese shredded
- parsley chopped, to garnish
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper or to taste, optional
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions
- Select Saute mode and add oil to inner pot of Instant Pot.
- Add sausage, and cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Break up the sausage if the pieces are too large. (If the sausage browns too quickly, press Cancel until the Instant Pot cools down a bit and select Saute again.)
- Add onions and garlic. Stir until onion is translucent.
- Deglaze pot with white wine, stirring until liquid has nearly evaporated.
- Turn off Instant Pot.
- Stir in bell peppers, sugar, dried basil, oregano, salt, black pepper, and broth or water.
- Add in the tomatoes and pasta. Don't stir but just gently push down to submerge in the liquid.
- Close the lid and pressure cook on High Pressure for 5 minutes.
- Do a Quick Release of steam, and open the Instant Pot. [Read More: The Different Pressure Release Methods]
- Select Saute mode.
- Stir in cream and simmer the pasta for a couple of minutes until heated through.
- Turn off Instant Pot and if desired, let the pasta rest for a few minutes to absorb any remaining liquid. Remove the inner pot from the base to keep the pasta from cooking further.
- Sprinkle each serving with Parmesan and parsley, and crushed red pepper, if using.
Stovetop Instructions
- Make the marinara sauce: Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Saute onions until soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté briefly. Stir in crushed tomatoes and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir in sugar, dried basil, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for another 15 minutes. [See Note 1]
- Cook pasta according to box directions. Drain and set aside.
- Brown sausage in 1 tablespoon oil in a large saute pan, over medium-high heat, for about 5 minutes. Deglaze as needed.
- Add bell pepper and sauté until crisp-tender.
- Deglaze with white wine, simmering until the liquid is nearly evaporated, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in pasta, 2 cups marinara sauce, and cream. Simmer until heated through. Add more sauce to taste.
- Sprinkle each serving with parmesan and parsley, and crushed red pepper, if using.
Notes
- Prep time does not include steps that are already accounted for in the ingredient list, e.g. chopped onions, minced garlic, diced chicken, etc.
- Note 1:The sugar adds a nice balance to the flavor of the tomatoes, but feel free to leave it out or add some grated carrots.
- Note 2: Substitute a jar of marinara sauce for the crushed tomatoes, if you wish. Adjust the salt accordingly.
- Note 3: Add 12 ounces of pasta for a thicker dish and less sauce.
- To lighten the dish, you could substitute half-and-half for the heavy cream.
Nutrition
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I am not a certified nutritionist. I provide my best estimate of nutritional information merely as a courtesy to my readers. If you depend on nutritional information for dietary or health reasons, I suggest using your favorite online nutrition calculator to confirm the nutritional value of this recipe based on the actual ingredients that you use.
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✅ Why Trust Neena at Paint the Kitchen Red?
I’m Neena, and I have a lifetime of experience working with pressure cookers. I know how to maximize the potential of a pressure cooker to consistently produce delicious and easy meals. With my Instant Pot expertise, I can provide valuable insights, troubleshooting advice, and innovative recipe ideas so you can trust me on all things Instant Pot!
➡ New to the Instant Pot? Get my Instant Pot instructions for beginners.
More Instant Pot Pasta Recipes
Tona says
Mine came out a little soupy?
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Tona, I normally let it sit and it thickens up quite a bit. If that didn’t happen for you, next time add about 1/4 cup more pasta.
Sunny Drohan says
Can you do a NRL release, instead of a QRL. Do you think this would eliminate steam spatter?
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Sunny, I don’t recommend a natural release because your pasta will be overcooked. Why don’t you try the intermittent quick release? You can read more about it in my Natural release vs quick release article.
Kyle Welsh says
Excellent recipe!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Thank you, Kyle. I’m so glad you liked the recipe.
Geno McKenna says
Loved this recipe. Super easy with almost all ingredients I have on hand. I wanted to make a full pound of pasta so I just increased the other ingredients as I went along. This is going to make my dinner rotation menu!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Thanks for your comment, Geno. I’m thrilled that you liked the recipe!
Doug says
The last two times cooking this, I get the “Food Burn” message! Any suggestions?
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Doug, are you saying you used to cook it with no issues or are you new to the recipe? Are you making sure not to stir in the pasta and tomatoes? Have you done a water test to make sure it’s not the Instant Pot having issues? Sorry for all the questions but it’s hard to pinpoint the issue without this info. I would try adding another 1/4 cup of water/broth to the recipe and see if that helps.
Gail says
This was a hit with our family. It was quick & delicious. I did omit the sugar as I just do not care for sweet sauces with pasta. Thanks for a good dinner option.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
You’re very welcome, Gail. Thank you for taking the time to comment!
Nikki says
I made this tonight and everyone loved it. I made a few adjustments because I have big eaters. I used strained tomatoes instead of crushed because it’s what I had. I used 1 lb of pasta and doubled the water and spices. I also put double the amount of crushed red pepper flakes in with the rest of the spices. I also used mushrooms instead of peppers due to our preferences. The result was slightly spicy but definitely not too much. Will make this again!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Nikki, thank you for sharing your modifications. Glad you liked the recipe!
kim says
We really enjoyed this dish. It is very versatile. I used your suggestion and put in carrots instead of the sugar. We will definitely be making this again!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Thank you for taking the time to comment and share your substitution. I’m very happy you liked the recipe.
kim says
can this recipe be doubled in a 8 quart instant pot?
I’m excited to try this recipe!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Kim, yes you should be able to double it in an 8 quart. Hope you enjoy it!
Sydney L says
Is there an alternative to the white wine I could use?
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Sydney, yes just use chicken broth or even water.
Creeann says
We love this recipe! I make it often. This time however I can’t find crushed tomatoes anywhere so I used whole canned tomatoes and blended them slightly. I hope it will still be the same.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
I’m thinking you probably had no issue with the whole tomatoes. Thanks for your comment – I’m so glad you like the recipe. I recently made it with vegetarian sausage because my daughter is now vegetarian. I added the sauteed sausage at the end after cooking was done.
jennifer l WETTSTEIN says
Very quick and easy. A huge hit. Will make again and again!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Thank you for letting me know, Jennifer! I’m happy you liked the recipe 🙂
Barbara Sugarman says
We absolutely love this recipe. I make it at least twice a month. I made it a few weeks ago for a ladies get together and it was a hit. Love your recipes.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Thank you, Barbara, for letting me know – it’s so nice to hear that!
Becky says
We have made this several times. We add veggies like broccoli, carrots and/or chard. This time we made it cream cheese. I prefer it with cream cheese.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Thanks for sharing, Becky. Yes, cream cheese is a great option too.
Jeff says
Really really good. Doubled it and kids wanted more!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Glad to hear it, Jeff! Thanks for commenting.
Laurie says
This is delicious! I have made it several times. I usually have plenty of fresh tomatoes to use from my garden/greenhouse, so I spend a good amount of time chopping tomatoes instead of using the canned ones, but it’s worth the chopping time!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Laurie – fresh tomatoes are the best, lucky you! Thanks for sharing.
Laurie says
Now that I’m trying to lose some weight, I thought I’d try some revisions to this. For 2/3 recipe (4 servings), I used one head cauliflower instead of the pasta, only 1/2 cup water, and whole milk instead of most of the cream (just a tblsp cream). It made a very delicious soup! I think this would work well with the pasta AND the cauliflower, with the normal amount of liquid, just to add some extra veggies.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Thanks for sharing your substitutions, Laurie. Glad you were able to make it your own to suit your diet.
Liz says
soooo good! i used hot sausage because i like spice. used 1lb pasta and would definitely recommend that. will add kale or spinach next time.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Thank you, Liz! I’m glad to hear you like the recipe – one of my favorites 🙂
Tanya Knudson says
This instapot recipe is incredible! Easy to make, with good warm comfort food flavor. I actually used vegetarian sausage and my boyfriend never knew. He actually asked to take the leftovers to work the next day. This is definitely a go-to recipe for me.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Tanya, I’ve never tried it with vegetarian sausage. My daughter has become a vegetarian recently and I never thought to make this recipe for her – thank you!
Anna says
I’m also a vegetarian. Did you just sub like. Or so or add the sausage at the end?
Cathy says
Made this tonight! It was very good. First time I attempted pasta in the instant pot. My husband loved it! Made it exactly as the recipe stated and was perfect! Thank you!!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Thank you, Cathy. Great first recipe to try 🙂
Becky says
We have made this several times. We usually leave out the wine but add extra broth, veggie or chicken. We add carrots and broccoli before cooking and sometimes chard after. We use either cream or cream cheese and maybe an extra splash of milk.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Becky, thank you for sharing your modifications. I’m glad the recipe has become a repeat at your home!
Becky says
We have made this several times, doubling the recipe. We add broccoli, carrots and chard.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Becky, I had this for dinner a couple of nights ago and added less sausage but more veggies. So versatile!